Sunday 11th March 2012
Mark Broadbent
*Our beliefs depends on how we react
*
Christian Atheism is an ideology in which the belief in the God of Christianity is rejected or absent but the moral teachings of Jesus are followed.
*Analogy of Money
1. Do not steal
2. Stay out of debt
3. Give generously and sacrificially
*
We may tick the boxes but behind is a God desperate to get our attention and settle for enough
*We believe the moral teachings but give in to temptation
*Another analogy of relationships
*Blind date. Girl presents a whole set of questions such as "What kind of government system would you want?" Told to answer in 20seconds counting down. And does allow the Boy to ask the same question.
*We get anxious and nervous in relationships
*What does the Bible say about relationships?
1. Do not cheat
2. No sex before marriage
3. Honor your husband
*We may again tick the boxes but securities are in their relationship
*
Relationship may become more significant than God
*Do not really want to hang out with singles or church anymore
*Many people has counterfeit gods in our lives
How do we get rid of counterfeit God and keep God in focus?
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
*
Jesus talked about taking the cross, denying yourself, losing everything thus we get the perception that Christianity is going to be all tough
*
Jesus says that He can give us security and longing
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He himself is the answer for our prayers
*Even if God is not king, loving and good, He is worthy of worship
*
We may worship God because of all the good works He has done but God is telling us to worship Him because He is God
*We may worship Paul because He is loving, kind and good as well but we do not do that
*When were so thirsty, we would still go for the coke no matter how much we hate it when were stuck in a building with only a coke machine
*It is the same with God.
We have no choice because He is the only God in the whole universe
Job 15
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 “Would a wise person answer with empty notions
or fill their belly with the hot east wind?
3 Would they argue with useless words,
with speeches that have no value?
4 But you even undermine piety
and hinder devotion to God.
5 Your sin prompts your mouth;
you adopt the tongue of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth condemns you, not mine;
your own lips testify against you.
7 “Are you the first man ever born?
Were you brought forth before the hills?
8 Do you listen in on God’s council?
Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?
9 What do you know that we do not know?
What insights do you have that we do not have?
10 The gray-haired and the aged are on our side,
men even older than your father.
11 Are God’s consolations not enough for you,
words spoken gently to you?
12 Why has your heart carried you away,
and why do your eyes flash,
13 so that you vent your rage against God
and pour out such words from your mouth?
14 “What are mortals, that they could be pure,
or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?
15 If God places no trust in his holy ones,
if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,
16 how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt,
who drink up evil like water!
17 “Listen to me and I will explain to you;
let me tell you what I have seen,
18 what the wise have declared,
hiding nothing received from their ancestors
19 (to whom alone the land was given
when no foreigners moved among them):
20 All his days the wicked man suffers torment,
the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him.
21 Terrifying sounds fill his ears;
when all seems well, marauders attack him.
22 He despairs of escaping the realm of darkness;
he is marked for the sword.
23 He wanders about for food like a vulture;
he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
24 Distress and anguish fill him with terror;
troubles overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack,
25 because he shakes his fist at God
and vaunts himself against the Almighty,
26 defiantly charging against him
with a thick, strong shield.
27 “Though his face is covered with fat
and his waist bulges with flesh,
28 he will inhabit ruined towns
and houses where no one lives,
houses crumbling to rubble.
29 He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure,
nor will his possessions spread over the land.
30 He will not escape the darkness;
a flame will wither his shoots,
and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.
31 Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless,
for he will get nothing in return.
32 Before his time he will wither,
and his branches will not flourish.
33 He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,
like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.
34 For the company of the godless will be barren,
and fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes.
35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil;
their womb fashions deceit.”
*God is for Job, God is against Satan
*We may think it is US vs GOD
*God is for us and not against us, our money, relationships,security
*Satan will keep tempting you but God is there for you
*God is not always close to His people but He will give His spirit to people
*The new testament says that we receive the spirit not by anointing oil but by
believing in Jesus Christ
*Be with us-
God is already here
*
If we put God first, we would not chase after all these counterfeit gods
*We go to counterfeit gods because
we think God does not give us full satisfaction
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We should encourage and remind each other of God's goodness.
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
